Steppenwolf Theatre Company : Twenty-Five Years of an Actor's Theater

by Victor Skrebneski, Richard Christiansen

In the past 25 years, the legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company of Chicago has redefined the landscape of acting and performance, spawning a generation of Americas most gifted actors. No other American theater has survived as long--and thrived as much--as the Steppenwolf ensemble of artists. Celebrated members include John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Joan Allen, John Mahoney, Laurie Metcalf, Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry, Frank Galati, Glenne Headly, Gary Cole, Kevin Anderson, Martha Plimpton and many others.

To celebrate 25 years of extraordinary achievement, acclaimed photographer Victor Skrebneski has created an impressive photography book featuring historical production highlights and exclusive portraits of Steppenwolfs 33-member ensemble of actors and directors. Steppenwolf at 25 also contains short, thoughtful essays penned by several notable American authors and playwrights, including Studs Terkel, Sam Shepard, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Don DeLillo, Jon Robin Baitz, Richard Christiansen and Lanford Wilson. The book also provides a brief history of Steppenwolf with a complete production list, ensemble member biographies and thoughts on the nature of theater and the nature of ensemble theater.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2000

Reviews

[Mariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This massive book is good for dorky John Malkovich fans who like to look at photos from theatre productions they'll never get to see. That's me! One day I'll invent that time machine. I'll go see some Beatles concerts too. After that I have no idea. My imagination isn't good for much other than looking at photos. Maybe I'll scream a bit like how I think a fangirl would have screamed. "Malkovich was probably super intense here." Stuff like that. Proof of my lack of imagination is that Charlie Kaufman wrote Being John Malkovich before I had the chance. (I was gonna!)

Laur (that's my twin) and me bought this in 2005 during our one and only trip to the windy city. We coughs went just to see Malkatraz on stage (in Lost Land by Stephen Jeffreys. I'm pretty sure that was translated from some Hungarian playwright who I don't recall the name of. It was pretty good). I also got a fridge magnet. This book lasts longer than a fridge magnet. I have no idea where that ran off to...

It was fun taking photos of ourselves with the photos hanging on the walls. Other people (strange strangers) did it with us. Good times. I suppose that same effect could be recreated with this book. It is certainly large enough.

In recent years, I used this tome to hide things like love letters and other secrets. I don't use it for that anymore. Now it is a drink coaster.

Now I'm out of reasons why this is a good book.

P.s. It would be fun to leave it lying around Gary Sinise's dressing room on that CSI show. "Remember when you used to be good?"

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are involved in theater in any capacity, just a fan, or miss your days of stage as much as I do, this book will not disappoint. Read for personal historical research. I found this work of immense interest and its contents helpful and inspiring - large photographs adorn most every page. Overall, this work is also a good resource for the researcher and enthusiast.
- Timeline: From Highland Park to Lincoln Park
-1974
In January, Gary Sinise and a small group of aspiring Highland Park high school actors organize under the name Steppenwolf Theatre Company at the North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, Illinois and produce the first Steppenwolf play, And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little by Paul Zindel. In April the company produces a second show, the musical Grease and in June, Terry Kinney and Jeff Perry team up with Gary and the group on a third production, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard. In October a forth show is produced, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, completing the first season... Steppenwolf’s production of The Minutes by ensemble member Tracy Letts announces a Broadway run in 2020.
-More historic dates HERE: https://www.steppenwolf.org/ensemble/...